Water-borne carrier and glider



July 11, 1961 2,991,726

WATER-BORNE CARRIER AND GLIDER Filed Jan. 6, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1 el R. CLAQEucE D. MH-LEFL ATTORNEY July 11, 1961 c. D. MILLER WATER-BORNE CARRIER AND GLIDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1960 JNVENTOR. CLNZENCE D.M\LLEI2 Unite States Patent 2,991,726 WATER-BORNE CARRIER AND GLIDER Clarence D. Miller, Miami, Fla.

(Rte. 1, Box 148G, Dunnellon, Fla.) Filed Jan. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 827 12 Claims. ((31. 104-70) This invention relates to a water-borne carrier, and it particularly relates to a carrier of the aforesaid type which is utilizable in conjunction with an inclined ramp leading into the water.

There have heretofore been various types of waterborne carriers slidable down an inclined ramp into a body of water. However, these prior carriers have generally been boats or similar vehicles which float on the water with the riders entirely supported thereby. There have been no arrangements previously which utilized a sliding movement down an inclined ramp for the purpose of propelling a carrier carrying a person into the water, the carrier then supporting the occupant only sufiiciently to buoy him up while swimming. Such a device is of great value not only for childrens games and swimming lessons but also for invalids and the like who could not otherwise enjoy the water.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a carrier which will enable a person to slide into the water and then will buoy that person up while he swims.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier of the aforesaid type which is relatively simple in construction, light in weight, and easy to use. Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier of the aforesaid type in combination with a ramp which is simple in construction, light in weight and easy to set up and take down.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved carrier and ramp arrangement, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with te accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a ramp and carrier assembly, the carrier being shown as it is about to move down the ramp.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier on the starting platform.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of the carrier opened up to floating position.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the carrier in floating position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a platform 10 positioned near the side of a pool of water 12 and having a stairway 14 at one side, remote from the pool, and an inclined ramp 16 at the side adjacent the pool. The ramp 16 inclines downwardly from the top of the platform 10 into the pool.

The ramp 16 comprises a pair of laterally-spaced, generally parallel strips 18 extending from the top of platform 10. These strips 18 are laterally inclined away from each other in opposite directions (as best shown in FIG. 3) and are held together by a series of metal or Wood straps 22 spaced at intervals along the length of the ramp 16.

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The strips 18 are each provided with an auxiliary guide strip, as at 24, thereby providing trackways. These auxiliary guide strips 24 are each positioned at the outer portion of their respective main strips 18 and their inner edges are inclined or beveled at 26 flush to the surface of the center of their respective main strips 18. The inclined portions 26 of the auxiliary strips 24 prevent lateral movement of the carrier, generally designated 32.

The carrier 32 comprises a center portion or floor 34 having a pair of oppositely-disposed shoes 36 one on each side. Wedge shaped cushion beds 35 facilitate lying on the lloor 34. Each of the shoes 36 extend both forwardly and rearwardly of the center section or floor 34 and are hinged to the center section by hinges 40 and 42, respectively. When hinged downwardly, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, through slightly more than countersinks 39 in the shoes 36 abut against bosses 38 extending through a downwardly extending centerboard 46 on the bottom of floor 34, and the shoes have rollers 50 which may run in the trackways of the ramp 16. Apertures 44 and 45 are provided in the floor 3'4 and shoes 36 between the hinges 40 and 42, respectively and provide handholds should the rider 68 choose to sit on rather than lie on the carrier 32. The outward inclination of strips 18 with the guide strips 24 cooperate with the inward inclination of the shoes 36 beyond the right angle to thus support the carrier 32 and retain the rollers 50 in operative position for supporting the carrier on the tracks 18 while rolling down the ramp 16.

Each shoe 36 is provided with a flexible tubular casing, as at 48, each having a longitudinal center slit, as at 52, closed by lacings 56. Insertable through the slits 52 are inflatable buoyant tubes 60, these tubes being inflated with air or the like. On the outer edge of each shoe 36 are provided the pair of rollers 50. It is also Within the scope of this invention to substitute cork or other buoyant material for the tubes 60.

In operation, the carrier 32 is drawn up to the top of platform 10 where it is mounted by the rider, who lies, face down, on the floor 34 and cushions 35. In this position the rider pushes forward and is then carried down the ramp 16 into the water in pool 12. [During this movement, the rollers 50 are guided along the inclined trackways of ramp 16 (as shown in FIG. 3). As soon as the carrier leaves the ramp 16 and enters the water, the shoes 36 float up around their hinges 40 and 42 and the inflated tubes 60 enter the water and act to buoy up the carrier. The hinging action is facilitated by the upwardly curved front ends 62 which, when folded inwardly, tend to move outwardly from each other to thereby hinge upwardly when the carrier strikes the water. Hand grip cushion pads 64 and leg rest cushion pads 66 are provided at the front and rear ends of each. The rider supporting cushion pads 35 and apertures 44 and 45 prevent the rider from being pinched when the shoes hinge upwardly in the water.

The rider 68 then is free to paddle around or attempt to swim while being buoyed up by the carrier 32.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A water glider assembly comprising a platform, means for ascending said platform, a ramp inclined downwardly from said platform toward an adjacent body of water, and a carrier movable along said ramp from said platform to said water, said cairier comprising a center floor and a shoe on each of its two opposite sides, said shoes being hinged to said center section and having rollers on their outer edges, guide means on said ramp, said guide means coacting with said rollers to retain said shoes in angularly inclined hinged supporting position relative to said center floor, means for preventing said shoes from moving beyond a predetermined inclined position toward each other, and float means on the upper surface of each of said shoes when they are hinged upwardly to aligned position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said ramp comprises a pair of laterally-spaced strips laterally downwardly inclined away from each other and each having an auxiliary inclined upper surface, said auxiliary inclined surfaces being laterally inclined oppositely from the lateral inclination of their respective supporting strips, said rollers being guided in movement by said auxiliary inclined surfaces.

3. A water glider assembly comprising an inclined ramp and a carrier movable along said ramp, said carrier comprising a center floor section and a pair of oppositelydisposed shoes hinged to said center floor section, a float member on each of said shoes, and means on said ramp and on said carrier for releasably and hingedly retaining said shoes in angular position relative to said center section while said carrier is moving along said ramp.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said means comprises rollers on the outer edges of said shoes and guide strips on said ramp.

5. A carrier for use with an inclined trackway leading from an elevated platform to a body of water, said carrier comprising a center floor section and a pair of oppositely disposed shoes, hinge means connecting each shoe to an opposite side of said center floor, flotation means on each of said shoes, said shoes being hinged to move between a horizontal position and a downwardly extending position inwardly inclined toward each other, means 3 for preventing said shoes from moving beyond a predetermined inclined position toward each other, and

carrier carrying means on the outer edges of each shoe. for supporting said carrier when said shoes are inclined inwardly toward each other beneath said center floor section.

6. The carrier of claim 5, said means for preventing said shoes from moving beyond the predetermined position toward each other comprising boss means supported between said inwardly inclined shoes.

7. The carrier of claim 6, said boss means comprising outwardly extending bosses supported on a centerboard extending downwardly from said center floor section.

8. The carrier of claim 5, said carrier carrying means comprising a pair of outwardly extending rollers on the outer edges of each shoe.

9. The carrier of claim 5, the forward edges of said shoes being curved to extend outwardly when said shoes are supported in inwardly inclined position, to thereby cause said shoes to hinge outwardly and thus upwardly to horizontal, floating position.

10. The carrier of claim 5, and a pair of inwardly inclined rider supporting cushion pads on the opposite ends of said center floor section.

ll. The carrier of claim 10, said rider supporting cushion pads being located adjacent said hinge means, said floor section and said shoes being cut away between said hinge means to provide apertures, said apertures and said rider pads preventing pinching of the rider as the shoes hinge upwardly to horizontal flotation position.

12. The carrier of claim 11, and rider arm and, leg supporting cushion pads at the front and rear ends of said shoes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

